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The words "chaste" and "chastity" stem from de Latin adjective castus meaning "pure". The words entered de Engwish wanguage around de middwe of de 13f century; at dat time dey meant swightwy different dings. "Chaste" meant "virtuous or pure from unwawfuw sexuaw intercourse" (referring to extramaritaw sex),[3][4] whiwe "chastity" meant "virginity".[4][5] It was not untiw de wate 16f century dat de two words came to have de same basic meaning as a rewated adjective and noun, uh-hah-hah-hah.[3][4]

In many Christian traditions, chastity is synonymous wif sexuaw purity. Chastity means not having any sexuaw rewations before marriage. It awso means fidewity to husband or wife during marriage. In Cadowic morawity, chastity is pwaced opposite de deadwy sin of wust, and is cwassified as one of seven virtues. The moderation of sexuaw desires is reqwired to be virtuous. Reason, wiww and desire can harmoniouswy work togeder to do what is good.

In marriage, de spouses commit to a wifewong rewationship which excwudes sexuaw intimacy wif oder persons. After marriage, a dird form of chastity, often cawwed "viduaw chastity", is expected of a woman whiwe she is in mourning for her wate husband. For exampwe, Angwican Bishop Jeremy Taywor defined 5 ruwes in Howy Living (1650), incwuding abstaining from marrying "so wong as she is wif chiwd by her former husband" and "widin de year of mourning".[6]

The particuwar edicaw system may not prescribe each of dese. For exampwe, Roman Cadowics view sex widin marriage as chaste, but prohibit de use of artificiaw contraception as an offense against chastity, seeing contraception as unnaturaw, contrary to God's wiww and design of human sexuawity. Many Angwican communities awwow for artificiaw contraception, seeing de restriction of famiwy size by artificiaw contraception as possibwy not contrary to God's wiww. A stricter view is hewd by de Shakers, who prohibit marriage (and sexuaw intercourse under any circumstances) as a viowation of chastity. The Cadowic Church has set up various ruwes regarding cwericaw cewibacy, whiwe most Protestant communities awwow cwergy to marry.

Cewibacy is reqwired of monastics—monks, nuns and friars—even in a rare system of doubwe cwoisters, in which husbands couwd enter de (men's) monastery whiwe deir wives entered a (women's) sister monastery. Reqwired cewibacy among de cwergy is a rewativewy recent practice: it became Church powicy at de Second Lateran Counciw in 1139. It was not uniformwy enforced among de cwergy untiw 200 years water.[7] Eastern Cadowic priests are permitted to be married, provided dey are so before ordination and outside de monastic wife.

Vows of chastity can awso be taken by waypersons, eider as part of an organised rewigious wife (such as Roman Cadowic Beguines and Beghards in de past) or on an individuaw basis: as a vowuntary act of devotion, or as part of an ascetic wifestywe (often devoted to contempwation), or bof. Some protestant rewigious communities, such as de Bruderhof, take vows[8] of chastity as part of de church membership process.[9]

Chastity is a centraw and pivotaw concept in Roman Cadowic praxis. Chastity's importance in traditionaw Roman Cadowic teaching stems from de fact dat it is regarded as essentiaw in maintaining and cuwtivating de unity of body wif spirit and dus de integrity of de human being.[10]:2332 It is awso regarded as fundamentaw to de practise of de Cadowic wife because it invowves an apprenticeship in sewf-mastery.[11]:2339 By attaining mastery over one's passions, reason, wiww and desire can harmoniouswy work togeder to do what is good.

"Physicaw intimacy between husband and wife is a beautifuw and sacred part of God's pwan for His chiwdren, uh-hah-hah-hah. It is an expression of wove widin marriage and awwows husband and wife to participate in de creation of wife. God has commanded dat dis sacred power be expressed onwy between a man and a woman who are wegawwy married. The waw of chastity appwies to bof men and women, uh-hah-hah-hah. It incwudes strict abstinence from sexuaw rewations before marriage and compwete fidewity and woyawty to one's spouse after marriage.

"The waw of chastity reqwires dat sexuaw rewations be reserved for marriage between a man and a woman, uh-hah-hah-hah.

"In addition to reserving sexuaw intimacy for marriage, we obey de waw of chastity by controwwing our doughts, words, and actions. Jesus Christ taught,"Ye have heard dat it was said by dem of owd time, Thou shawt not commit aduwtery: but I say unto you, That whosoever wookef on a woman to wust after her haf committed aduwtery wif her awready in his heart" (Matdew 5:27–28)."[12]

Chastity is mandatory in Iswam. Sex outside wegitimacy is prohibited, for bof men and women wheder married or unmarried.

The most famous personaw exampwe of chastity in de Quran is Virgin Mary (Mariam) :

"And [mention] de one who guarded her chastity, so We bwew into her [garment] drough Our angew [Gabriew], and We made her and her son a sign for de worwds." (21 :91)

"And she took, in secwusion from dem, a screen, uh-hah-hah-hah. Then We sent to her Our Angew, and he represented himsewf to her as a weww-proportioned man, uh-hah-hah-hah.She said, "Indeed, I seek refuge in de Most Mercifuw from you, [so weave me], if you shouwd be fearing of Awwah ."He said, "I am onwy de messenger of your Lord to give you [news of] a pure boy."She said, "How can I have a boy whiwe no man has touched me and I have not been unchaste?"" (19:17-20)

Extramaritaw sex is forbidden and de Quran says:

"And do not approach unwawfuw sexuaw intercourse. Indeed, it is ever an immorawity and is eviw as a way." (17:32)

"And dose who do not invoke wif Awwah anoder deity or kiww de souw which Awwah has forbidden [to be kiwwed], except by right, and do not commit unwawfuw sexuaw intercourse. And whoever shouwd do dat wiww meet a penawty.Muwtipwied for him is de punishment on de Day of Resurrection, and he wiww abide derein humiwiated -Except for dose who repent, bewieve and do righteous work. For dem Awwah wiww repwace deir eviw deeds wif good. And ever is Awwah Forgiving and Mercifuw." (25:68-70)

The injunctions and forbiddings in Iswam appwy eqwawwy to men and women, uh-hah-hah-hah. The wegaw punishment for aduwtery is eqwaw for men and women, uh-hah-hah-hah. Sociaw hypocrisy in many societies over history had wed to a doubwe standard when considering sin committed by men versus sin committed by women, uh-hah-hah-hah. Society tended to be more wenient and permissive towards men forgiving men for sins not forgivabwe when women do dem. At de root of de contemporary wave of free sex for bof sexes was apparentwy to estabwish eqwawity and remove discrimination between man and woman, uh-hah-hah-hah. Instead of cawwing for eqwaw cweanwiness de caww was for eqwaw dirt. Not so in Iswam. and in a wist of commendabwe deeds de Quran says:

"Indeed, de Muswim men and Muswim women, de bewieving men and bewieving women, de obedient men and obedient women, de trudfuw men and trudfuw women, de patient men and patient women, de humbwe men and humbwe women, de charitabwe men and charitabwe women, de fasting men and fasting women, de men who guard deir private parts and de women who do so, and de men who remember Awwah often and de women who do so - for dem Awwah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward." (33:35)

Because de sex desire is usuawwy attained before a man is financiawwy capabwe of marriage, de wove to God and mindfuwness of Him shouwd be sufficient motive for chastity:

"But wet dem who find not [de means for] marriage abstain [from sexuaw rewations] untiw Awwah enriches dem from His bounty. And dose who seek a contract [for eventuaw emancipation] from among whom your right hands possess - den make a contract wif dem if you know dere is widin dem goodness and give dem from de weawf of Awwah which He has given you. And do not compew your swave girws to prostitution, if dey desire chastity, to seek [dereby] de temporary interests of worwdwy wife. And if someone shouwd compew dem, den indeed, Awwah is [to dem], after deir compuwsion, Forgiving and Mercifuw." (24:33) The prophet's prescription to de youf was:

Those of you who own de means shouwd marry for dis shouwd keep deir eyes uncraving and deir chastity secure. Those who don't, may practise fasting for it curbs desire. " (Ibn Massoud)

Chastity is an attitude and a way of wife. In Iswam it is bof a personaw and a sociaw vawue. A Muswim society shouwd not condone rewations entaiwing or conducive to sexuaw wicense. Sociaw patterns and practices bent on fwaring up de sexuaw desire are frowned upon by Iswam be de means permissive ideowogies, pruritic art or negwect of moraw upbringing. Personaw freedoms shouwd never be taught as de freedom to chawwenge God's injunctions or trespass over de wimits He drew.

Chastity is highwy prized in de Bahá'í Faif. Simiwar to oder Abrahamic rewigions, Bahá'í teachings caww for de restriction of sexuaw activity to dat between a wife and husband in Bahá'í marriage, and discourage members from using pornography or engaging in sexuawwy expwicit recreationaw activities. The concept of chastity is extended to incwude avoidance of awcohow and mind-awtering drugs, profanity, and gaudy or immoderate attire.[13]

Hinduism's view on premaritaw sex is rooted in its concept of Ashrama (stage) or de stages of wife. The first of dese stages, known as Brahmacharya, roughwy transwates as chastity. Cewibacy and chastity are considered de appropriate behavior for bof mawe and femawestudents during dis stage, which precedes de stage of de married househowder (Grihasda). Sanyasis and Hindu monks or Sadhus are awso cewibate as part of deir ascetic discipwine.

In Sikhism, premaritaw or extra-maritaw sex is strictwy forbidden, uh-hah-hah-hah. However, it is encouraged to marry and wive as a famiwy unit to provide and nurture chiwdren for de perpetuaw benefit of creation (as opposed to sannyasa or wiving as a monk, which was, and remains, a common spirituaw practice in India). A Sikh is encouraged not to wive as a recwuse, beggar, monk, nun, cewibate, or in any simiwar vein, uh-hah-hah-hah.

Cewibacy is a must for aww Jain monks and nuns. Chastity (Bhramacharya) is one of de five major vows of Jainism. The generaw Jain code of edics reqwires dat one do no harm to any wiving being in dought, action, or word. Aduwtery is cwearwy a viowation of a moraw agreement wif one's spouse, and derefore forbidden, and fornication too is seen as a viowation of de state of chastity.